Dir, Vw Design Center

Role Summary

The Design Director oversees all Design topics in the US. This position is the key Design representative interacting with the NAR Board and the leaders of other departments (Engineering, Research, Sales, Marketing and Communication) and model lines. In partnership with the South America region and Mexico, this position will have Design development responsibility in the United States.

This role is responsible for the Administration and Finances of the DCC, facility and studio equipment, strategic development of Design direction, talent acquisition and staff development.

Role Responsibilities

Creative/Innovation – 20%

• Develops new product ideas for the VW Brand.
• Provides analysis of the U.S. Market regarding future VW Brand projects and opportunities
• Defines and develops automotive projects (production/concepts) within the parameters of the individual design processes.
• Develops feasible concepts and autonomous transposition into 3D.
• Defines product range for the VW Brand and identifies deficits within the U.S. Market.

Supervisory Work – 40%

• Ensures highest level of design quality for all projects, presentations and materials.
• Oversees design projects from initial phases through production.
• Ensures the successful application of VW design philosophies into new product ideas that are right for the North American market.
• Ensures integration of all market inputs and engineering requirements into the design projects.
• Holds overall management responsibility for all administrational, financial and compliance topics within the DCC
• Holds overall management responsibility for the coordination of all design activities from all departments at the DCC.
• Ensures the coordination of activities and schedules with other departments (e.g. research, fabrication, engineering, sales, and manufacturing).

Strategy Work – 40%

• Oversees market and competition analysis as a base for new conceptual ideas.
• Transfers new relevant design trends to region Americas and VW AG.
• Drives strategic development of Design in the development process.
• Identifies and documents goals and directions of VW design philosophy and how it is expressed specifically for North America
• Aligns Project content and direction within the US and manages harmonized communication with Americas Design.
• Communicates high level company targets and aligns design process and objectives accordingly.
• Communicates design requirements into vehicle, platform and module planning process.
• Drives VW Product and Design decisions for North America.

Hybrid

Primary Location

United States-California-Oxnard

Qualifications

Years of Experience:

• 10+ years of proven leadership experience
• 15+ Automotive design experience in OEM to include a Lead/Main design role in production and concept vehicles

Education - Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Automotive or Industrial Design or equivalent

Education - Desired

• Master’s Degree in Automotive or Industrial Design

Skills

• Strong analytical thinking – using logic and reason
• Ability to comprehend automotive experiential technology and its foray into general consumer electronics and lifestyle industry
• Conceptual thinking – creative and strategic
• Integration – joining people, processes or systems
• Organized and goal oriented
• Strategic mindset to plan long term developments for projects and the organization
• Significant experience in cross functional collaboration, project and resource management
• Extensive knowledge and experience of OEM automotive engineering and executing pre-development stage of production and advanced concepts from satellite design operations
• Excellent communication skills – interpersonal, presentation and written
• Resilient
• Experience in vehicle packaging, human factors, interface, user-experience, and user behavior aspects in transportation design
• Influencing skills
• Understanding of multiple regional markets, with in depth knowledge of the North American Region
• Understanding of holistic company targets, VW brand strategy and their implementation in the 360 degree design approach
• Negotiation skills
• Resource management

Specialized Skills - Required

• Outstanding people management skills and leadership
• Competent in all areas of Design (Exterior, Interior, Color and Trim, graphics, UX and brand design)
• Extensive knowledge of the main VW Group brands in general
• Ability to manage multi-disciplinary team
• Up-to-date knowledge of relevant technology and innovations
• Good understanding of automotive manufacturing
• Thorough understanding of the customers, the competitors and the VW Brand in the NAR region, including historic development, current situation, as well as trends and forecasts
• Extensive knowledge of platform development, platform variants and regional implementation
• Competent in vehicle concept pre-development, packaging, and architecture
• Deep understanding of Automotive product planning process and global marketing requirements
• Efficient and clear communication of complex topics, concepts and strategies to executive audiences
• Wide interest/knowledge of creative industry (e.g. entertainment, product design, fashion)
• Excellent judgment of design proportions and proposals

Specialized Skills - Desired

• Excellent contacts to relevant stakeholders within VWGoA, VWM and VW AG and VW Group
• Multilingual

Work Flexibility

• High amount of travel due to extensive contact to and collaboration with organizations within the NAR, as well as headquarters in Germany
• Must be willing to travel within short (3-4 days) notice

Compensation

Salary range is dependent on factors such as geographical differentials, industry-based experience, skills, training, credentials, and other qualifications.

In the state of California, the salary range is $139,700- $229,500.

Volkswagen Group of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws

Hybrid